In a hollowed-out tree trunk on the west end of Pearl Street, wood has made room for books.
The inside of a cottonwood tree stump in Boulder has been turned into a new space for community members to find their next favorite read. The trunk contains three wooden shelves on which the books, which are free to take and enjoy, can rest. Shielded from the elements by a wooden door, the library’s selection as of earlier this month included novels, cookbooks and a “Choose Your Own Adventure” collection.
“Apparently, itap very, very busy,” said Chess Piccione, project coordinator for the library.
Boulder is home to many of these book displays, which are called . As a Little Free Library volunteer, Piccione restocks the local book repositories regularly. According to Piccione, there are over 270 in the Boulder area, the locations of which can be viewed at . Another tree-turned-library, this one made from an elm, can be found at the intersection of McIntire Street and Waite Drive in Boulder.
The new library adds charm to an already unique corner of Boulder. The tree stands in front of the Arnett-Fullen House, an 1877 residence that was listed as a city of Boulder landmark in 1990. Known for its blend of architectural styles, the home is sometimes referred to as Boulder’s “gingerbread house.” The house is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
When Piccione heard that outside the Arnett-Fullen House was set to be removed by the city, she suggested in October that the stump could start a new life as a library.
“It just seemed like such a waste to let it go,” she said.
The library has been open about a month. People hoping to — or both — are welcome to visit the library at 646 Pearl St.
Kate Remley and Dylan Williams, the owners of the Arnett-Fullen House, bought the home from Historic Boulder, which acquired it in the 1990s. They have been living in the house for over 20 years.
The tree’s new form mirrors the historic Arnett-Fullen House. On top of the 8-foot-tall trunkis a smaller version of the mansard roof that sits atop the house’s tower. The roof brings the total height of the Little Free Library to 16 feet. A skylight also keeps the books lit from above.
While the tree’s roof might not have the tower’s slate tiles, the resemblance between the two structures is clear, at least to the owners.
“They’re not slate,” Remley said of the new tiles, “but the colors are perfect.”
Michael DeMatteo, the projectap contractor, said the synthetic tiles on the tree’s roof were each hand-painted to match the colors of the slate tiles. They were also individually cut.
“They come from the manufacturer as, essentially, big rectangles,” DeMatteo said. “So we had to cut each one of them at an angle so that we got that ‘diamond shape,’ to emulate the home.”
DeMatteo explained that the hollowing-out process involved chopping off the top of the tree and slicing through the interior wood, removing it piece by piece. At its largest point, the trunk is roughly 6 feet wide, according to the contractor.
DeMatteo said his company, , typically tackles larger projects related to commercial and residential remodeling. Piccione, however, expressed a desire to collaborate with Elite Construction on the Little Free Library.
“She wanted to work with us, and she liked our approach for how we were going to put it together,” DeMatteo said. “It kind of just turned into a fun project for us.”
Tim Plass, executive director of , said the nonprofit plans to establish a walking tour of the Little Free Libraries that can be found in historic parts of the city.
“Itap so exciting to see historical elements taken and transposed into a new use,” he said of the Arnett-Fullen House library. “Itap whimsical and itap fun, and it makes history accessible.”
Plass pointed out other historic features of the property, including a carriage step near the curb of Pearl Street; that, he said, was a stepping stone for passengers entering and exiting a horse-drawn carriage. The iron fence that surrounds the house was carried to Boulder from Nebraska by cart.
“There was already a lot of foot traffic in this area, but I think this is going to be a draw,” he said of the library. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes one of those places in Boulder where people say, ‘You have to have your picture taken in front of this Little Free Library.’”
